Although I have been a member of this forum for a long time, this is my first post, so please bear with me. I have been a fan of the Indiana Pacers since their beginning in the ABA. I have never seen any team, professional or amateur, experience the turmoil that this year's team has gone through. If the Pacers brass decided to write off this season and wait till next year, I could hardly blame them. However, I feel that with the Eastern Conference being what it is, we are still only an 8-10 game winning streak from being back into contention. For example, Houston has gone from 16-17 to 34-21 by winning 16 of the last 20, including the last 8 in a row. The Pacers are capable of doing something similar to that, and could be right back in the race for home court advantage in the playoffs. Or we could continue the way we have been going and not even make the playoffs.
I have been feeling for several weeks that the Pacers need to make some kind of change to turn things around this season. If nothing else, it would tell the players that management is not writing off the season. I first thought about the possibility of trading Artest. The only teams that would remotely be interested in Ron would be teams that have no hope of playoff contention this year. The only teams that I feel would interest the Pacers in this scenerio would be the Clippers, New Orleans, Golden State, Utah, and maybe Portland. However, Ron is so important to this team's future, I don't think they are looking to trade Ron.
If you look at the Pacers roster and salaries, we really are a hard team to trade with. We don't have any expiring contracts that other teams would look for. Two of our highest paid players, Austin and JB, have not been consistent contributers. Most of our young talent have very low salaries. This makes it difficult to make a deal and have salaries match. Some of the players in the league that are rumored to be available for trades, Baron Davis, Dale Davis, Dunleavy, Abdur-Rahim, Sprewell, Cassell, Bonzi Wells, etc., don't match up with what the Pacers would be able to give in return.
One team seems to make sense to me, and that is Toronto. They are offering Donyell Marshall to all takers but are insisting that Jalen Rose and his horrible contract be included. Eric Williams has said that he wants out as well. It doesn't seem too many teams want to take on Jalen's contract, however. I am wondering if they may take Austin contract in order to get rid of Jalen's.
Tell me what you think of this:
Indiana trades: PF Austin Croshere (9.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.6 apg in 26.8 minutes)
SF Jonathan Bender (5.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.6 apg in 13.3 minutes)
C Scot Pollard (4.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.5 apg in 19.6 minutes)
PG Anthony Johnson (5.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.2 apg in 23.6 minutes)
Indiana receives: SG Jalen Rose (16.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.2 apg in 30.2 minutes)
PF Donyell Marshall (10.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.1 minutes)
SF Eric Williams (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.8 apg in 26.6 minutes)
PG Milt Palacio (5.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 3.6 apg in 19.3 minutes)
Change in team outlook: +15.8 ppg, -0.1 rpg, and +2.8 apg.
Toronto trades: SG Jalen Rose (16.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.2 apg in 30.2 minutes)
PF Donyell Marshall (10.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.1 minutes)
SF Eric Williams (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.8 apg in 26.6 minutes)
PG Milt Palacio (5.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 3.6 apg in 19.3 minutes)
Toronto receives: PF Austin Croshere (9.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.6 apg in 26.8 minutes)
SF Jonathan Bender (5.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.6 apg in 13.3 minutes)
C Scot Pollard (4.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.5 apg in 19.6 minutes)
PG Anthony Johnson (5.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.2 apg in 23.6 minutes)
Change in team outlook: -15.8 ppg, +0.1 rpg, and -2.8 apg.
TRADE ACCEPTED
Why for Toronto?
They get rid of Jalen's contract, they get JB's potential, a backup PF to replace Marshall, and AJ to backup Rafer Alston. They save $14 million by losing Jalen's and adding Austin's salary over two years.
Why for Indiana?
We don't give up any starters (at least when everyone is healthy). Marshall is a good rebounder and inside player who can hit the three regularly. Williams is a good backup at the SF position. Jalen could help at SG or SF. This might even help convince Reggie to give up the starting spot. Our line up would look something like this:
PG - Tinsley, Palacio, Gill
SG - Rose, Miller, Freddy
SF - SJax, Williams, JJ
PF - O'neal, Marshall,
C - Foster, Harrison, Edwards
This makes us very versatile. We could play big (Harrison, O'neal, Marshall, Rose, SJax) or go small (Foster, O'neal, SJax, Freddy, Tinsley) and a lot of combinations in between. Jalen becomes very tradable after next season when he will be in the final year of his contract.
Most importantly, this tells the team that management still believes this season is important. In my opinion, it gives Reggie a chance for a title in his final season.
There are several other options to this, with Jalen, Marshall, and Williams being the main pieces for Toronto and Austin, JB, and Pollard being the main pieces for Indiana.
What do you think?
I have been feeling for several weeks that the Pacers need to make some kind of change to turn things around this season. If nothing else, it would tell the players that management is not writing off the season. I first thought about the possibility of trading Artest. The only teams that would remotely be interested in Ron would be teams that have no hope of playoff contention this year. The only teams that I feel would interest the Pacers in this scenerio would be the Clippers, New Orleans, Golden State, Utah, and maybe Portland. However, Ron is so important to this team's future, I don't think they are looking to trade Ron.
If you look at the Pacers roster and salaries, we really are a hard team to trade with. We don't have any expiring contracts that other teams would look for. Two of our highest paid players, Austin and JB, have not been consistent contributers. Most of our young talent have very low salaries. This makes it difficult to make a deal and have salaries match. Some of the players in the league that are rumored to be available for trades, Baron Davis, Dale Davis, Dunleavy, Abdur-Rahim, Sprewell, Cassell, Bonzi Wells, etc., don't match up with what the Pacers would be able to give in return.
One team seems to make sense to me, and that is Toronto. They are offering Donyell Marshall to all takers but are insisting that Jalen Rose and his horrible contract be included. Eric Williams has said that he wants out as well. It doesn't seem too many teams want to take on Jalen's contract, however. I am wondering if they may take Austin contract in order to get rid of Jalen's.
Tell me what you think of this:
Indiana trades: PF Austin Croshere (9.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.6 apg in 26.8 minutes)
SF Jonathan Bender (5.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.6 apg in 13.3 minutes)
C Scot Pollard (4.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.5 apg in 19.6 minutes)
PG Anthony Johnson (5.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.2 apg in 23.6 minutes)
Indiana receives: SG Jalen Rose (16.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.2 apg in 30.2 minutes)
PF Donyell Marshall (10.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.1 minutes)
SF Eric Williams (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.8 apg in 26.6 minutes)
PG Milt Palacio (5.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 3.6 apg in 19.3 minutes)
Change in team outlook: +15.8 ppg, -0.1 rpg, and +2.8 apg.
Toronto trades: SG Jalen Rose (16.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.2 apg in 30.2 minutes)
PF Donyell Marshall (10.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.1 minutes)
SF Eric Williams (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.8 apg in 26.6 minutes)
PG Milt Palacio (5.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 3.6 apg in 19.3 minutes)
Toronto receives: PF Austin Croshere (9.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.6 apg in 26.8 minutes)
SF Jonathan Bender (5.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.6 apg in 13.3 minutes)
C Scot Pollard (4.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.5 apg in 19.6 minutes)
PG Anthony Johnson (5.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.2 apg in 23.6 minutes)
Change in team outlook: -15.8 ppg, +0.1 rpg, and -2.8 apg.
TRADE ACCEPTED
Why for Toronto?
They get rid of Jalen's contract, they get JB's potential, a backup PF to replace Marshall, and AJ to backup Rafer Alston. They save $14 million by losing Jalen's and adding Austin's salary over two years.
Why for Indiana?
We don't give up any starters (at least when everyone is healthy). Marshall is a good rebounder and inside player who can hit the three regularly. Williams is a good backup at the SF position. Jalen could help at SG or SF. This might even help convince Reggie to give up the starting spot. Our line up would look something like this:
PG - Tinsley, Palacio, Gill
SG - Rose, Miller, Freddy
SF - SJax, Williams, JJ
PF - O'neal, Marshall,
C - Foster, Harrison, Edwards
This makes us very versatile. We could play big (Harrison, O'neal, Marshall, Rose, SJax) or go small (Foster, O'neal, SJax, Freddy, Tinsley) and a lot of combinations in between. Jalen becomes very tradable after next season when he will be in the final year of his contract.
Most importantly, this tells the team that management still believes this season is important. In my opinion, it gives Reggie a chance for a title in his final season.
There are several other options to this, with Jalen, Marshall, and Williams being the main pieces for Toronto and Austin, JB, and Pollard being the main pieces for Indiana.
What do you think?
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